ABSTRACT
The practice should adopt a standardized assessment tool (such as the visual analog scale or numerical rating scale) that can be used by all team members on a routine basis. It should be remembered that all scales have shortcomings related to variability, accuracy, and ease of use. When beginning a pain management program, practitioners may find perioperative pain easier to manage effectively. Chronic pain associated with longstanding or CNS disease often presents challenges to even the most experienced clinician and may require unusual approaches not commonly utilized in most practices. Specialists with an interest in pain management include anesthesiologists, surgeons, oncologists, internists, and clinical pharmacologists. The recently established International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management can be contacted for more information and additional materials concerning the implementation of pain management protocols and hospital programs.
